Horse-shield



(No Model.)

0. B. TUTTLE. HORSE SHIELD.

No. 500,085. Patented June 20, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CHARLES E. TUTTLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

HORSE-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,085, dated June 20, 1893.

Application filed July 13, 1891. Serial No. 399,360. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. TUTTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veterinary Surgical Appliances, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in veterinary surgical appliances, and is of that class of devices designed to prevent self abuse by stallions.

The invention consists in thepeculiar construction of a bristle plate of such construction that while effectually preventing the abuse by the stallion. it does not interfere with his free movement in all other ways, such as in lying down,-&c., and does away with any possibility of his injuring himself.

The invention further consists in the peculiar construction of the supporting harness, whereby the shield or plate is suspended without danger of displacement, and whereby it may be readily applied or removed; and further in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows my device applied to a horse. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the harness and plate arranged as in use. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the plate, and Fig. 4 is tbOtllOlll plan view thereof.

'A is a curved plate, preferably of leather, rubber or other flexible material, adapted to fit the belly of a horse. To this is secured a plate B also preferably of leather or rubber, and curved downwardly from the plate A, so as to extend some distance below the horse. The plate B is secured to the plate A, only at its ends, as shown in Fig. 3, so that it may bend or yield under too great pressure.

To the plate B are secured two series of bristles a, b, the bristles 0t being arranged centrally of the plate, and being made of wire, or other rigid material, while the bristles b are arranged at each end, and are of hair or other yielding material.

trally, to punish the horse in any attempts at c are eyes or loops at each end of the shield or plate, by means of which it is adapted to be hung beneath the horse by means of a harness. This harness, I preferably construct of a breast strap (1. Supported by the strap (1, across the breast of the horse, the cropper 6, back strap f, and the two oppositely inclined suspending straps g it, one extending from the back strap forwardly around the horse, and the other from the breast strap rearwardly, and both connected to the eyes in the ends of the plate.

Buckles i j and 7.0 are provided by means of which the harness and shield may be re-. moved or applied. To secure the shield in position the three buckles on one side being opened the'harness can be placed over the horse, the buckles secured, adjusting the straps to the proper length, and the device will be suspended in proper position on the horse. It will be seenlthat the shield is suspended from both front and rear, by the straps g and h, which also prevent sliding of the shield around the horse.

The metallic or stiff bristles I arrange conabuse; the side bristles will deter him in his efiorts, and yet they are not sufficiently stiff to scratch or cut him in lying down, as they are most apt to come in contact with his body, or legs.

I preferably arrange the metallic bristles centrally through a portion of the end bristles, as shown at Z, to effect a punishment if the shield slips a little one side or the other.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination of a flexible belly piece, with a second flexible piece, carrying pricking points, attached thereto, at opposite ends, so as to stand away from the belly piece in an arched manner and form a space between both pieces, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a flexible pad to rest against the belly of the animal, with a second flexible piece provided with bristles or guards, the said pad and flexible piece being secured together with an air space or chamber between them, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination with the belly shield,

of a breast strap, crupper attachment, and

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in oppositely inc-lined supporting straps extendpresence of two witnesses.

ing down the sides of the animal, and connected at their lower ends to said shield, and at their upper ends with the breast strap and crupperrespeotively, for preventing the shield from moving either forward or backward, substantially as described.

CHARLES E. TUTTLE.

Witnesses:

P. M. HULBERT, JAMES WHITTEMORE. 

